Shock Absorber for Ram Mount

[illiniturf]

I recently installed a Lowrance HDS-8 on my boat with a Ram Mount. I had seen "shock absorbers" listed for sale that provided a base under the ball so that it would absorb the pounding when driving around. These take the stress off of the ball joint in the Ram Mount.

Well . . . I thought there had to be an easier home-made solution and so here is what I did. I simply bought a large rubber stopper from my local hardware store. I turned it upside down and then attached it to the Ram Mount by inserting a screw (with rubber washer) inside the gap in the Ram Mount and then tightening it down to the rubber washer. By doing this, it snugged the rubber stopper up against the Ram Mount and provides a perfect "shock absorber" for the Ram Mount. It was easy to do and cheaper than buying one!

I hope this picture comes through. This is my first attempt at posting a pic!

[CShaver8]

I like that idea alot!

[mrbassfla]

good ideal!!!

[1kickerfish]

Great idea and good pic

[WarEagle24]

Great idea. I'm going to do that to mine!!

[jerzia]

I would love to see a pic of the screw and how is was bolted down.

[illiniturf]

Jerzia - I'll try and see if I can get a picture of the screw and how it was bolted in there this weekend. If so, I'll post it back in this thread.

[champion_206]

that is a excellent idea, so I said to myself, self we need to find those, so I go to my ace hardware down the road and took me a few and some help but they had em, I bought 2 in case 1 isn't high enough, I will post pics when I am done, thanks for the tip well I used velcro on the stopper bottom and the other side to the gunnel,not sure what would happen if I want to take the unit off with the screw in the gap, not seeing how you did it, but I would guess the screw would fall out if you opened up the ram to get the HDS 8 off the boat, I have seen GPS pucks velcroed on so I think it should be fine also, on my HDS 7 up from, I used a zip to attach the stopper to the ram mount shaft, so when I am running I can fold down the ram and let the stopper do its job against the front deck, I will take some pics, just came in from the barn and I am tired, pics tomorrow


Modified by champion_206 at 4:04 PM 3/27/2010


Modified by champion_206 at 4:07 PM 3/27/2010

[cosmoranger]

[fish4bas]

[CShaver8]

I just took a machine screw, with a fender washer, and put it inside the ram mount, then screwed it on into the rubber stopper. Works great, and always stays inside the mount because of the fender washer, even when I remove it

[champion_206]

May I ask what size ram mount your using, I have a 2 1/2 ball on mine, gonna try the screw with the fender washer and see how it works to, either way, I think its a great idea

[illiniturf]

CShaver8 - that's exactly how I did it, too! The black rubber washer I used inside the RAM Mount is large enough to keep the screw in place and it doesn't come out when I open the mount wide enough to take out my HDS-8 unit.

[illiniturf]

Jerzia - sorry that I have not been able to take or post pics of the screw yet. I have been swamped and just have not had time yet. I'll try and get some pics posted as soon as possible, but it may be a few days. Sorry!

[illiniturf]

Here are pics of how I have the screw inside the RAM mount and into the rubber stopper to hold it in place.

Hope this helps!

[rsmorgans]

What is the problem you are trying to solve? I have my sonar/GPS unit on a Ram mount and keep it in the upright position both on the water and on the road. What am I missing? Thanks

[rsmorgans]

Any answers to the question above, guys? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks

[jerzia]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by illiniturf &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here are pics of how I have the screw inside the RAM mount and into the rubber stopper to hold it in place.

Hope this helps!

</TD></TR></TABLE>
That makes more sense now. Thanks!

[jerzia]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rsmorgans &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any answers to the question above, guys? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Many thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>
When running in very rough water, the mounts tend to slip causing the unit to hit the glass, deck, etc. This rubber stopper, will prevent the mount from bottoming out there by preventing damage.

[brnzbaklvr]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jerzia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
When running in very rough water, the mounts tend to slip causing the unit to hit the glass, deck, etc. This rubber stopper, will prevent the mount from bottoming out there by preventing damage.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That stop is a good idea...I have to readjust my Ram mount after a long run on Erie or LSC...